Cheap Prepay Gas & Elec Article

cheddar

I'm currently with BG and have been on PPM for 11 years with them. However, in the past 2 years or so my income and stability has risen greatly and I just find using the PPM a pain and also don't like paying the extra. Every single other bill I have is on DD.

I tried to get it changed to a credit meter but failed the credit check due to some old debt accrued with my ex husband.

I am looking to EDF as I believe they will change free of charge, but how does it work? Who owns the meter? Will EDF put in their own PPM and expect me to keep it for 12 months as mentioned on their website for people who change to one. Or will I be able to switch to them and get the credit meter fitted soon after?

I know I can ring them and ask but if anyone knows how it works it would be super helpful

SwanJon

Hi Cheddar, so long as you don't have smart prepayment meter (and they are rare at the moment) there is no need to change the meter.
If you go to a new supplier they will give you a new card/key which will program the meter with their details.

lstar337

SwanJon wrote: »

Hi Cheddar, so long as you don't have smart prepayment meter (and they are rare at the moment) there is no need to change the meter.
If you go to a new supplier they will give you a new card/key which will program the meter with their details.

I believe they want the meter changed, from prepay to credit.

bluetail14

hmm..we've got a prepayment meter for electricity with British Gas and they refuse to change it for a new credit meter citing my husbands unsuccessful credit check [like Vivih, his Experian score is very good! so no idea what British Gas decision is based on]..in addition, we're already paying by direct debit for gas with them. any ideas who we could switch over to so that they'll agree to put in a new meter for free?
(tried Npower they asked for £60 for a meter, E-On uses premium call numbers, EDF...not sure because if they dont do any credit check, does it mean their plans are not among the cheapest? ). Anybody tried First Utility?

ideally we're looking for a dual fuel fixed plan with a credit meter.

footyguy

cheddar wrote: »

I'm currently with BG and have been on PPM for 11 years with them. However, in the past 2 years or so my income and stability has risen greatly and I just find using the PPM a pain and also don't like paying the extra. Every single other bill I have is on DD.

I tried to get it changed to a credit meter but failed the credit check due to some old debt accrued with my ex husband.

I am looking to EDF as I believe they will change free of charge, but how does it work? Who owns the meter? Will EDF put in their own PPM and expect me to keep it for 12 months as mentioned on their website for people who change to one. Or will I be able to switch to them and get the credit meter fitted soon after?

I know I can ring them and ask but if anyone knows how it works it would be super helpful

If he's your ex, why did you not financially disassociate yourself from him when you divorced?

Contact the CRA and see if you can do so today!

footyguy

bluetail14 wrote: »

hmm..we've got a prepayment meter for electricity with British Gas and they refuse to change it for a new credit meter citing my husbands unsuccessful credit check [like Vivih, his Experian score is very good! so no idea what British Gas decision is based on]..in addition, we're already paying by direct debit for gas with them. any ideas who we could switch over to so that they'll agree to put in a new meter for free?
(tried Npower they asked for £60 for a meter, E-On uses premium call numbers, EDF...not sure because if they dont do any credit check, does it mean their plans are not among the cheapest? ). Anybody tried First Utility?

ideally we're looking for a dual fuel fixed plan with a credit meter.

nPower - yes they would want £60 if they agree. But you will be credit checked first.

Eon - their website gives 0345 052 0000 to call if you wish to change to them. That's not a premium rate number, but if you use saynoto0870, you could even find a freephone number (but calls to such a freephone number from a mobile may cost more than to the 0345 number )
Again, they will credit assess you before agreeing

Edf - you could switch to them if you like, get the meter changed (after at least 1 month) and then switch again
But with all that pfaffing about, you might be best finding the best deal for you and switching direct to that supplier and stomaching the £50-£60 that may or may not be charged to change meter.
(You'll have missed the expensive winter period otherwise)

Consult a comparison site.
Dual fuel (on credit meters) is rarely the cheapest option currently.

bluetail14

also, am curious looking at these cashback deals which promise a £52 cash back for a switch to nPower .. this would almost cover the £60 boiler cost. anybody tried it yet?

footyguy

bluetail14 wrote: »

also, am curious looking at these cashback deals which promise a £52 cash back for a switch to nPower .. this would almost cover the £60 boiler cost. anybody tried it yet?

What £52 cashback is that? Wherefrom? :huh:

Anyway, Martin says don't consider cashback in your assesment as it is not guaranteed until it actually lands in your bank account.

And that could be 3-5 months from application (if you receive it at all)
I've always received cashback due on energy switches ... so far

cheddar

SwanJon wrote: »

Hi Cheddar, so long as you don't have smart prepayment meter (and they are rare at the moment) there is no need to change the meter.
If you go to a new supplier they will give you a new card/key which will program the meter with their details.

I would eventually like to have a credit meter.

lstar337 wrote: »

I believe they want the meter changed, from prepay to credit.

Yup, correct

bluetail14 wrote: »

hmm..we've got a prepayment meter for electricity with British Gas and they refuse to change it for a new credit meter citing my husbands unsuccessful credit check [like Vivih, his Experian score is very good! so no idea what British Gas decision is based on]..in addition, we're already paying by direct debit for gas with them. any ideas who we could switch over to so that they'll agree to put in a new meter for free?
(tried Npower they asked for £60 for a meter, E-On uses premium call numbers, EDF...not sure because if they dont do any credit check, does it mean their plans are not among the cheapest? ). Anybody tried First Utility?

ideally we're looking for a dual fuel fixed plan with a credit meter.

Sorry to hear you can't get one with BG as well, I was told you near to have a virtually perfect credit history to get a credit meter with them by one of their CS reps. She said many people fail it and it's very hard to pass - not sure how true that is.

If you use a price comparison site you'll see how EDF fares in the respect of plans and how much they cost.

footyguy wrote: »

If he's your ex, why did you not financially disassociate yourself from him when you divorced?

Contact the CRA and see if you can do so today!

Did that the moment we were separated. It's debt I accrued when with him, not a joint debt as such. We split over 3 years ago but as you know, it stays with you for some time (and no I'm not blaming the ex, I let him order stuff in my name etc - all my own fault etc etc).

footyguy wrote: »

.....Edf - you could switch to them if you like, get the meter changed (after at least 1 month) and then switch again.
But with all that pfaffing about, you might be best finding the best deal for you and switching direct to that supplier and stomaching the £50-£60 that may or may not be charged to change meter.
(You'll have missed the expensive winter period otherwise)

Consult a comparison site.
Dual fuel (on credit meters) is rarely the cheapest option currently.

Is it really a lot of faffing about? Switch supplier, get new card/key, wait 4 weeks, change meter, set up DD, done. I don't see it that bad to save on PPM and not have keep up with topping up, card/key possibly failing etc.

If duel fuel on credit isn't the cheapest then what is? It comes up as cheaper than PPM every single time for me....

Confused now!

bluetail14

footyguy, topcashback site offers up to £52.50 if you switch this week to nPower and E.On. so i wondered if that would cover the cost of our meter change..